MAXIME FILION, DE ROCKLAND, REPÊCHÉ DANS LA LIGUE CANADIENNE DE SOCCER PROFESSIONNEL S P O R T S ANIL JHALLI IJL-Réseau.Presse-Vision anil.jhalli@eap.on.ca
Rockland's Maxim Filion was drafted in the second round of the CPL-U SPORTS draft by Forge FC in Hamilton. (Université de Montréal) « C’était un objectif, un rêve, un chemin que je pensais hors de ma portée », a déclaré M. Filion. « C’est réel maintenant. Je peux me concentrer sur l’école, puis préparer mon esprit pour le camp d’entraînement. » Filion a affirmé qu’il serait prêt pour le camp d’entraînement, qui commence en janvier. Bien qu’il soit actuellement concentré sur ses examens et autres exigences de fin de semestre à l’université, M. Filion sait que l’occasion qui lui est offerte est une chance qu’il ne laissera pas passer. d’entraînement de pré-saison avec la possi- bilité de signer un contrat de développement CPL-U SPORTS. Ce contrat permet à un étudiant-athlète ayant entre une et quatre années d’admissibilité U SPORTS restantes de signer avec un club de la CPL tout en préservant son admissibilité pour retourner à la compétition U SPORTS. « J’étais plongé dans mes examens à l’école, et quand j’ai reçu l’appel, je n’ai pensé à rien d’autre », a dit M. Filion, qui étudie pour devenir ingénieur électricien. « J’étais tellement excité et je me suis dit que tout ce travail acharné porte enfin ses fruits, surtout quand je croyais vraiment ne pas avoir de chance cette année. »
Maxime Filion ne croyait pas qu’une carrière dans la Canadian Premiere League (CPL) était une possibilité après une année marquée par des blessures. Mais un seul appel téléphonique a tout changé pour le natif de Rockland. M. Filion, qui a commencé à jouer au soccer à l’âge de 10 ans dans une ligue maison de Rockland, a été repêché au deu- xième tour du repêchage CPL-U SPORTS par Forge FC, à Hamilton. « Je ne pensais vraiment pas avoir une chance d’être sélectionné cette année, sim- plement à cause de toutes les blessures que j’ai eues », a déclaré M. Filion, notant qu’il a été gêné par des blessures aux genoux, aux chevilles et à d’autres endroits durant la dernière saison avec les Carabins de l’Uni- versité de Montréal. « C’est un sentiment incroyable de recevoir cet appel. Je n’en revenais pas. » Le joueur de 21 ans a connu une saison 2024 remarquable avec les Carabins, où il a disputé 11 matchs et inscrit un impression- nant total de neuf buts, aidant ainsi l’UdeM à remporter le championnat du Québec et à se qualifier pour la finale nationale U SPORTS. M. Filion, qui a perfectionné ses com- pétences avec Ottawa South United en League 1, a été invité à participer au camp
NATS END 2024 ATOP CCHL STANDINGS Rockland head coach Justin Pereira. “That’s really what we are about. We can roll four lines on any day, and they can all score.” Pereira pointed to some recent trades the team has made, well ahead of the league’s trade deadline, that help with the team’s culture – being a puck-possession team that can roll four lines. Nats forward Alex Kelloway said he’s been impressed by how some of the new guys have stepped up in the absence of players the Nats lost last year who moved on from the program.
ANIL JHALLI anil.jhalli@eap.on.ca
The year 2024 will end on a high note for the Rockland Nationals. With the 2024-2025 Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) season officially past the midway point, Rockland sits on top of the CCHL standings, sporting a league-best 23 wins and 47 points in 29 games played (at press time, the Nats played two more games after this issue was published). “The common theme is, all the guys want to win,” said Nats captain Josh O’Connor. “Every player wants to get better and will do what they can for every guy on the ice.” The Nationals are building on a successful 2023-2024 season, one where Rockland’s junior A hockey team made the postseason for the first time in years and won a playoff round. The Nats reeled off 15 straight wins to start the 2024-2025 season and so far (at press time) have won 23 of a possible 29 games. “We weren’t going to go 55-0, that’s the reality,” added Rockland’s captain. “We have a team that I believe is championship calibre, and it is showing on and off the ice.” Rockland has been showing their ability to play both ends of the ice throughout the season and are among the highest-scoring teams in the CCHL. They have also allowed the fewest goals so far. “I think we have one player in the top 10 in scoring (Gabriel Le Houillier), so the depth of our team is really showing,” said
“Last year I thought it was the best team I’ve ever been a part of, and we lost a lot of significant guys coming into this year,” he said. “But the way guys were able to step up and take bigger roles has taken us to another level compared to last year.” Kelloway said the compete level and desire to win is something he has never seen on any of the teams he has been part of. “We come to practice every day competing and wanting to get better and treat every time we are on the ice with a lot of care and competitiveness,” he said. Two more wins last week With two straight victories against the Ottawa Junior Senators, the Rockland Natio- nals added to their impressive win total for the 2024-2025 Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) season. The Nationals, who sit atop the CCHL standings with 47 points, now have 23 wins on the season after back-to-back wins against Ottawa. The Nats, who are eight points ahead of the Cornwall Colts in the league’s Yzerman Division, welcomed the Ottawa Junior Sena- tors for a Friday night (Dec. 13) home tilt. Anthony Hall – who was named the game’s first star – scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, to lead Rockland to a 5-3 win over the visiting team. Jacob Charron, Gabriel Le Houillier, and Danel Myloserdnyy
The Nats acquired Joshua Penney from the Renfrew Wolves in a multi-player trade involving Mathieu Fillion, Toby Almstedt, Brody Dunbar, and Carter Downs going the other way. Penney, an Odessa, Ontario native and Wolves captain, led his team with 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games. He brings playmaking, speed, and high hockey IQ to the Nats. In a separate deal, the Nats acquired the rights to 2004 forward Andrew Morton from Renfrew in exchange for a draft pick and future considerations. Pereira said the coaching staff has ins- tilled in their players that it’s important to stick up for and be there for your teammates. “We brought some guys in that are buying into that philosophy,” said Pereira. “If you can’t do that, or don’t believe in that, that’s not a championship mentality. Once the new guys get up to speed, I feel we will have a stronger, deeper team than we had.” Pereira said he sees a championship- calibre team now, something he didn’t see early on, even when the team was winning game after game. “We want our guys to care about one ano- ther and adapt to our culture,” said Pereira. “We strive to get better as a program, and that’s what we will continue to do.”
scored the home team’s other goals. The Junior Senators were hoping for some payback when they welcomed the CCHL’s best team to their house on Saturday, Dec. 14. But on this night, the Nats proved once again that they were the better team, dou- bling up the Junior Sens by a score of 4-2. Anthony Hall continued his torrid scoring pace, potting his 16th goal of the season in the Rockland win. Mathys Laurent, Raphael Tellier, and James Marshall also scored for Rockland. Hall was once again named the game’s first star. The Nationals welcome the Pembroke Lumber Kings for the first of a home-and- home series before the Christmas break. Les Nationals de Rockland sont au sommet du classement de la Ligue de hockey du Canada central. (Patrick Bergeron, Rockland Nationals)
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